Hot Rods Steering issue

I'm more a repair guy than a replace guy ...

 

Always good to have an extra hip socket.
Just in case.

 

Yeah. I figured if I ever had a hip go out on me I might save a little money if I supply my own parts. But the more I think about it the less likely I imagine that will happen.

 

My luck I would have a spare left and would need the right swapped.
Guess I could use it and be easier to kick myself in the ass.

 

As well as most any other material ...

 

I ran into the owner last night and he thinks that he may have a solution. Everything has been checked and rechecked except for one thing. The only thing that hasn't been verified is the Chassis Engineering split wishbone kit. He now thinks that the C.I. kit does not give the front end enough caster and the radial tires dictate where the steering wheel is positioned by the crown's in the road. One of his good buddies has just built a new garage with perfectly level floors and they are going to bring the car to the garage next weekend and put an inclinometer on the front end and see what the angle is. He might be on to something.

 

Things that are often screwed up by repair; Steering box was adjusted,but not to center of the box/only to center of sopme other crap idea.< All steering box adjustment must be made. by take off steering rod,then an only then,turn max right an then max left=count turns,cut turns in 1/2,turn to center of 1/2,adjust there,== if you did it in the spot that is really center> as you turn only a little ether way,the play will get bigger ether side of dead center** If you did not adjust in the true center,it will be less play only to one side.
THERE IS NO other way ,to adjust center of box.............................the gears in box are made to be less play at dead center,an more as it comes off of center to ether side.
Other then box true center*,;; Caster* { need something between 6* to 7* } is the next control of wheels return to center.
Things that mess that all up;;; Too much scrub< front rims are wrong off set ,and or tires are too wide n heavy.
Lot of other screwup stuff,but those above are done more then others.

 

The Chassis Engineering split kit will actually have about the same caster as before the kit was installed. So don’t blame CI if the caster isn’t enough. The rake of the car, spring flattening, and many other items will affect the caster. He probably should have checked it when he was setting up the chassis, as it’s not something a shop can just “adjust”. Will require cutting and welding.

 

Supposedly, it was "aligned twice". I don't remember seeing specs posted.

 

If the steering wheel is actually changing positions its got to be more than a caster/alignment problem, it has to be a mechanical problem.

Steering wheel is connected to the box, the box to the tie rods, etc etc. All mechanical connections.

So again if the steering wheel is actually changing positions when turning one way or the other, something mechanical is moving allowing the steering wheel to change position.

Also as stated it's been gone over a couple times, I'm assuming by legit/reputable shops, along with the statement that they have gone over everything themselves too, and it still does it, then I'm moving to the back end and look for something loose in the rear springs, spring hangers, center bolts broke etc.

If the front is tight and the steering wheel is changing positions its got to be something in the back allowing movement and changing the way the car tracks down the road......

...

 

It could have been checked by modern alignment shops a hundred times, but only one in a hundred shops would know what to look for on a 40 Ford front end. And even less would know what to look for once it’s been modified.

 

What is the rear suspension ?